New rules

Ofgem has warned that payments from compensation claims made by the owners of wind farms and gas and coal plants are rising out of control, prompting Charles Hendry, the energy minister, to lead calls to ban such "exploitative behaviour".

Scottish Power and SSE, two of Britain's biggest energy companies,have been investigated for alleged abuses by the regulator. They currently supply energy to six million homes in the UK.

New rules, due to go to consultation this autumn, would force firms to surrender 10 per cent of turnover if they charge excessive compensation in future.

A spokesman for SSE said: "We have been working with the DECC throughout the consultation period and are confident that we have always been and will continue to operate within the given industry framework."

British Gas, E. ON, EDF and npower did not return requests for comment.

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